Refuse vehicle with an active service indicator

Abstract

A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body supported on the chassis, a pump, a tank configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the pump, and a service indicator configured to provide an indication of a fluid level within the tank. The service indicator includes a light, a graphic on a display, or a symbol in an augmented reality overlay. The service indicator is configured to provide the indication of the fluid level within the tank in response to a request signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refuse vehicle comprising:
 a chassis;   a body supported on the chassis;   a pump;   a tank configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the pump; and   a service indicator configured to provide an indication of a fluid level within the tank, wherein the service indicator includes a light, a graphic on a display, or a symbol in an augmented reality overlay, and wherein the service indicator is configured to provide the indication of the fluid level within the tank in response to a request signal.   
     
     
         2 . The refuse vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the service indicator is located remotely from the tank. 
     
     
         3 . The refuse vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the service indicator is the symbol in the augmented reality overlay. 
     
     
         4 . The refuse vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the service indicator includes a plurality of lights. 
     
     
         5 . The refuse vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of lights include an overfill light, a correct fill light, and a underfill light. 
     
     
         6 . The refuse vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the request signal triggers one of the overfill light, the correct fill light, and the underfill light to illuminate. 
     
     
         7 . The refuse vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the request signal is triggered by a button or switch. 
     
     
         8 . The refuse vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the button or switch is on a mobile device. 
     
     
         9 . The refuse vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the tank is arranged within an electronic power take off system. 
     
     
         10 . A refuse vehicle comprising:
 a chassis;   a body supported on the chassis;   a pump;   a tank configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the pump;   a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the hydraulic fluid within the tank;   a heater arranged within the tank and configured to selectively heat the hydraulic fluid within the tank; and   a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the heater, the controller being configured to:
 measure, via the temperature sensor, the temperature of the hydraulic fluid within the tank; 
 determine if a time to heat the hydraulic fluid to a predetermined preheat temperature is greater than or equal to a time until a scheduled start time; and 
 upon determining that the time to heat the hydraulic fluid to the predetermined preheat temperature is greater than or equal to the time until the scheduled start time, instruct the heater to heat the hydraulic fluid in the tank to the predetermined preheat temperature. 
   
     
     
         11 . The refuse vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine if a vehicle condition is met prior to instructing the heater to heat the hydraulic fluid.   
     
     
         12 . The refuse vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the vehicle condition includes a state of charge of a battery, a location of the refuse vehicle, or a fluid level within the tank. 
     
     
         13 . The refuse vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising a level sensor configured to measure a fluid level within the tank. 
     
     
         14 . The refuse vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the vehicle condition includes the fluid level of the hydraulic fluid within the tank. 
     
     
         15 . The refuse vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine if the temperature of the hydraulic fluid is below a threshold temperature prior to determining if the time to heat the hydraulic fluid to the predetermined preheat temperature is greater than or equal to the time until the scheduled start time.   
     
     
         16 . A method for preheating hydraulic fluid within a tank on a refuse vehicle, the method comprising:
 measuring a temperature of hydraulic fluid within a tank on a refuse vehicle;   determining if a time to heat the hydraulic fluid to a predetermined preheat temperature is greater than or equal to a time until a scheduled start time of the refuse vehicle; and   upon determining that the time to heat the hydraulic fluid to the predetermined preheat temperature is greater than or equal to the time until the scheduled start time, heating the hydraulic fluid in the tank to the predetermined preheat temperature.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 determining if a vehicle condition is met prior to heating the hydraulic fluid.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the vehicle condition includes a state of charge of a battery, a location of the refuse vehicle, or a fluid level within the tank. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 determining if the temperature of the hydraulic fluid is below a threshold temperature prior to determining if the time to heat the hydraulic fluid to the predetermined preheat temperature is greater than or equal to the time until the scheduled start time.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 upon determining that the temperature of the hydraulic fluid is above the threshold temperature, determining if a fluid level within the tank is at a correct level.